Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

Deniz Won Epic Discus Final In 1983

Only once have the three longest women’s discus throwers in collegiate history met at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

It happened in 1983 when the meet was held at Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Entering with the most accolades was Meg Ritchie of Arizona – the defending champion came in with the year’s best mark at 65.32m (214-4), short of her collegiate record of 67.48m (221-5) from a year earlier.

Undefeated on the year – including a conference win over Ritchie – was Leslie Deniz of Arizona State, and her incredible spring included four American records, topped by a heave of 64.94m (213-1).

Stanford’s Carol Cady also gained notice. She moved to No. 3 all-time just a week before the NCAA meet at 63.30m (207-8), and by the day of NCAA discus final she was fresh off a shot put crown, having defeated CR holder Ritchie and breaking her meet record as well.

Deniz set the tone in the qualifying round, adding more than 7 feet to Ritchie’s meet record at 63.80m (209-4).

In the first round of the final, Deniz opened up at 63.96m (209-10) to improve her MR. Cady added then the second-longest throw in meet history – and her career – at 62.42m (204-9). Ritchie, nursing a recent injury, followed at 56.00m (183-9).

That order didn’t change, and Deniz continued her dominance, finishing with two more throws of 62.90m (206-4) and 63.52m (208-5) that gave her the meet’s four longest in history.

“I was looking for at least 215,” said Deniz, still recovering from a back injury in training. “The last throw was close to 220, which is the goal I set for myself.”

Deniz and Cady both made the 1984 Olympic team. Deniz earned silver in the discus, while Cady was a finalist in the shot put. In 1986, Cady broke Deniz’s discus AR at 66.10m (216-10), which lasted for 20 years.

posted: April 2, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.

This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.

To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.

The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!